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Rare acquisition for TTD archives

REMEMBERING A LUMINARY: A photograph of the legendary British Collector of Kadapa, C.P.Brown (sitting middle), taken about 175 years ago during his visit to Gurramkonda in Chittoor district.

Special Correspondent

Archives receives legendary C.P. Brown's photograph

TIRUPATI: Here's some good news for those who were longing to see the photograph of the legendary British Collector of erstwhile Kadapa -- C.P. Brown. It was a chance acquisition even for the TTD's Digital Library, which now claims that it has secured the rare photograph passed on to its director, Bhuman, by one Saligrama Srinivasacharyulu of Valmikipuram.

Mr Bhuman had recently led a TTD contingent to Tarigonda village -- the birthplace of the saint-poetess Tarigonda Vengamamba for a function arranged to commemorate her works in praise of Lord Venkateswara. It was on this occasion that he casually broached with the Acharyulu about Brown's photograph still evading all those who are on a hunt for the same.

Unsuccessful search

Some of the big names in the Telugu literary world, who were engaged in the `search mission', according to Mr Bhuman were Arudra, Bangore and Janumaddi. But their efforts also did not meet with any success with the result that barring speculative or imaginary portraits, so far not even a single photograph of Brown could be secured until the Acharyulu passed on one to the head of the TTD's Digital Library.

The photograph, CDs of which were supplied on Saturday to the local media by Mr Bhuman, was reportedly taken when the high profile Collector with a deep love for Telugu visited, about 150 to 175 years ago, Ellutla village near Gurramkonda, which in those days was under Kadapa district. When Brown visited the village in connection with a land revenue dispute, he had obliged the villagers' request for a group photo with them. Acharvulu visited Ellutla village, traced the descendents of the persons in the photo and secured not only Brown's photo but five volumes of palm-leaf manuscripts on some ancient works. That would be studied later.